IPL's credibility needs rebuilding
At a time when Gavaskar has visited the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai and spoken about how the focus needs to be back on cricket, one is sure the quality of cricket will again be intense and gripping.
In three days, it'll be time for some off-shore cricket action as the Indian Premier League begins in the United Arab Emirates. By all accounts, the excitement over masala club cricket coming to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah is high. This has been vouched for by Sunil Gavaskar, BCCI president for the IPL, as well.
At a time when the general elections in India are in full swing and voters are turning out in large numbers across several states, the hardcore IPL fan does feel a bit dejected that the first leg of the tournament is not being held at home. Yet, to be fair to the Indian government, it has done well to allow the return of the IPL after a fortnight in the UAE.
Even as the teams stepped up their preparations before leaving for the Middle East, the Supreme Court also kept the IPL in the news. As far as players, coaches, team management and franchises are concerned, they would do well to realise that the seventh edition of the IPL is under intense scrutiny and credibility has to be restored.
Ideally, this should have been seventh heaven, but after weeks of suspense, when there was a possibility of the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals being scrapped, the two teams are luckily still in fray.
I would have loved to see players insulated even while training, but when Delhi Daredevils practised at the Air Force sports complex in the Capital, almost anyone could have walked around near the dressing room. Agreed, matches are not happening here, but if players need to be insulated, it should have begun right here.
At a time when Gavaskar has visited the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai and spoken about how the focus needs to be back on cricket, one is sure the quality of cricket will again be intense and gripping.
Everyone knows amidst the razzmatazz, glitz and glamour, action on the field will be fun. Several changes have taken place this time and it starts with teams bearing a new look.
For people who have been watching the IPL from the first edition, Virender Sehwag turning out for Kings XI Punjab will be a new experience. Likewise, there are several other players who will be appearing for different teams this time. Perhaps, it is just a matter of time before fans get used to the new-look teams.
Back to restoring the credibility of the IPL, it should be the single largest concern for everyone involved with running the league. After what happened in the last edition, players and teams need to realise how vulnerable they were and how there should be zero tolerance to anything dirty now.
It is nice to note that Gavaskar has roped in Deepak Parekh as a special advisor for the IPL. The corporate world knows how Parekh has headed a prestigious institution like HDFC so well. When the Satyam scam broke out in 2009, as a special director on the board, Parekh was given the task of restoring confidence in the IT industry.
On the face of it, one may wonder how someone not directly connected with cricket can help the IPL. But given the dynamics of the IPL and how the billion dollar baby is fighting for its faith to be reinstated, a man like Parekh can provide vital inputs for the running of the IPL.
All along, it has been maintained that the IPL is recession proof and corporates line up to be part of the teams. This year, one has seen a slight dip as a team like Delhi Daredevils, which has spent ` 60 crore on players, has had to work hard to find sponsors.
It is well known that as far as sponsorship goes, teams like Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings do not have a problem. The case is similar with Kolkata Knight Riders as charismatic superstar Shah Rukh Khan has been able to get sponsors on board. DELHI first had Hero Honda as a major sponsor, before Muthoot stepped in. On Saturday, when their new T-shirt was launched, Quikr took over the prime position. The grapevine says teams have found it tougher to find sponsors this year.
The bigger test for the IPL will be when the event heads back to India for the second leg. The general election fever would have more or less tapered off and T20 cricket will again be the flavour.
Teams will have a chance to get more sponsors on board and if that happens, it would be good for a brand which has taken years to build. To be sure, the sleaze and muck of IPL-6 cannot be forgotten easily. This is like starting all over again with a clean slate - just as it promises to be in the central government.
s.kannan@mailtoday.in